Bi Jupiter

A parcel from October Revolution Street in Moscow arrived this afternoon. Was it the “Putin Supporters Pack” I had been hoping for? No, something more mundane; yet another Russian lens.

Thanks to my unnecessarily large Russian camera collection, I already had an unnecessarily large Russian lens collection. But they are tempting and cheap little buggers and I keep buying them, most recently a Tair 11A and a Jupiter 11, the latter in response to a YouTube video from “Blunty”. The Tair I am uncertain about, the Jupiter 11 I adore.

Then “Blunty” posted another Russian lens review, this time of the the Jupiter 3, and he liked it; a lot.

This surprised me because I have a Jupiter 3 and I like it, not in the slightest. This maybe because it had accumulated significant cleaning marks on the front element during fifty seven years of use; or maybe it was on of those Monday morning vodka hangover lenses. Whatever, it had scored badly on my great Russian lens comparison test and had been put to one side to be dumped on eBay at some point.

But Mr. Blunty was so effusive in his praise that I thought I ought to take another stab at the Jupiter 3; and it was copy number two that arrived today.

Like the Kiev camera and many lenses, the Jupiter 3 arose from the Russian takeover of Contax and Zeiss after the second world war. Zeiss had produced the well-regarded Karl Zeiss Sonnar 50mm F1.5 in the 1930’s. The Russians appropriated the designs, the toolings and even the glass; and produced what became known as the Jupiter 3. Production from 1951-54 used old Zeiss glass; thereafter the design changed slightly and production continued into the 1980s. As with the Kiev cameras, the earlier the better; so I scoured eBay looking for something cheap, clean and old; and here it is:

On the left is my not so wonderful 1957 Jupiter 3, with it’s Kiev/M43 adapter. On the right is my new, also 1957, Jupiter 3 using an M39/M43 adapter.

I have run off a few comparison shots and was most relieved to find that new copy is significantly better. Also took a shot of the wife’s little sister who was determined to ignore me, and a couple on the beach; none of which highlight what I hope will be the quirky nature of the lens; but at least prove that it works.

Comments 🔗

2014-04-28 | Chang Noi says

Addicted?

2014-04-28 | **** says

I have the Jupiter 8 which is a little slower but produces really nice photos.

2014-04-28 | Parry says

For your mirrorless, or in my case my Pentax’s, these old Communists are hard to beat. Blessed be the Pentax registry distance! Get a good copy and you’re golden. My Carl Zeiss Jena DDR’s, the 50/1.8 MC Electric and 135/3.5 MC are still my sharpest lenses, beating even the Pentax FA Limited’s by a country mile. I should use them more. The result has been a a growing and unhealthy obsession with Carl Zeiss glass, especially that wot fits the A7r. This is dangerous talk.

Only thing to watch on the old beasts is the aperture pin. Often times if you can’t keep the pin down you can’t stop down. This is a problem, so to is the pin on the likes of the Jupiter 21M (200/4) protruding into the mirrorbox, potentially damage may result.

Chang Noi has asked about addition, Well, yes. But that so abates once you have them all. Jupiter, Meyer, Tair, Helios, Carl Zeiss Jena, Revuenon (I have a delightful 55/1.2 MC in PK mount) and of course the old Pentax M42 Super Takumar’s and K, M* and A* glass, although the really desirable of these can run into many thousands now and one has to draw the line somewhere.

This is getting ridiculous.

2014-04-29 | Spike says

I hate to admit I have three Jupiter 8s…. They just keep turning up, attached to cameras.

2014-04-29 | Spike says

Only to love, I tell my wife. She doesn’t believe me either.

2014-04-29 | Spike says

Imagine if Sony puts that new 12MP sensor into the RX1 with a custom designed Zeiss lens….

wets himself makes an excuse and leaves

2014-04-30 | Parry says

Well, the A7s is 12MP, full frame and the best low light camera ever apparently. ISO409,000. All this old Russian stuff will go straight on using a Novoflex M42 adapter.

A7r may be bought soon. Wait and see. Perhaps hold out for the MkII revision. Sensible.